RADIATION-LEVELS IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUMMIES

Radiation levels were studied in the mummies room and some galleries i n the Egyptian museum as well as in the medical museum of the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. Gamma and beta radiation levels show al most background values in direct contrast to some mummies in the close d mummies room and inside the glass cases used for protection. Radon d ecay products in the room atmosphere and inside the glass cases enclos ing some mummies show slightly higher levels than the background which were attributed to inefficient ventilation. After reasonable ventilat ion during the work, these levels approached the normal values. High r esolution gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements for the aerosol samples on the filters have shown background values. The results indicated tha t the mummies do not contain any radioactivity content or any radioact ive sources as was previously suggested.